Hitching device



(NoModeI.)

J. P. MUTE.

HITUHING DEVICE.

No. 519,891. Patented May 15,1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. MUTH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HIT'CHING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,891, dated May 15, 1894. Application filed November 13, 1893. Serial 110.490,903. (Nomudel.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. MUTH,of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching Devices, of which the following` is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying `drawings, forming a part hereof. l

U My lnvention relates to an improved hitching device, and consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and designated in the claims.

The object of my invention is to improve upon the present construction of this class of manufacture, the device being located in the ground so that its upper end will be flush with the surface of the street or sidewalk in which it is located.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device, showing it in the ground in the position ready for use, the upper end being iiush with the upper surface of the sidewalk in which it is located, portions of the adjacent side of the device being broken away to more clearly show the interior theref of. Fig. 2 is a partial section, the same being shown in the position in which it would appear when a horse, or other animal is hitched thereto. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a weight which I use in carrying out my invention, said view showing apertures formed in the weight. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the complete device. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section, showing the connection of the upper end of a rope or cable to an eye. Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of a locking device made use of in carrying out my invention. Fig. 7 is an edge elevation more clearly showing the device shown in Fig. 6, a portion being in section to more clearly show the connection of a rope or cable thereto.

Referring to the drawings: 1 indicates a tube which is preferably square in cross-section, and is provided with a closed bottom 2. lhis tube is inserted in the ground, so that its upper end will be flush with the surface of the street or sidewalk, and will be out of the way when not in use and not obstruct the passage as ordinary hitching posts do.

Formed on the inner edge of the sides of the tube l, adjacent the upper end of said tube, are downward and inward projections 3, which terminate a suitable distance below :the upper end of said tube, and the lower ends thereof are closed with a bottom 4, which forms a cavity 5 in the upper end of said tube 1. Formed in the center of the "bottom 4 is an opening 6 which isA larger at its top than bottom, and an upward annular projection 7 is formed around said aperture which forms an annular groove 8 between said projection and the adjacent sides of the cavity 5. Formed through the bottom 4, in the annular groove 5, are a suitable number of apertures 9 to allow water, &c., that may accumulate in said cavity to pass through.

10 indicates an eye, to which a shank 11 is connected, and an annular Iiange 12 is formed between said shank 11 and the eye l0. This annular liange is to engage the upper surface of theannular projection 7 and retain it in vice is not in use. Connected to the eye is Van ordinary spring-snap 13 which is adapted to engage the bit-ring of the bridle on the horse.

The shank 1l carried by the eye 10 is provided with a longitudinal bore 14 which terminates a suitable distance within said shank, and the inner end of said bore is larger than the open end, so that when the adjacent end of a cable 15 is located therein and lead, or like material, is melted and poured into said bore around said cable, it will adhere to the cable, and the bore being larger at its inner than open end, it will prevent the cable from being detached from said shank, thus rigidly securing them together. Located on and con` nected tothe outer periphery of the shank 11 is a piece of rubber, or like material, 16 which is larger at the end which engages the annular dange 12, carried by the shank, than at its opposite end. This piece of rubber is the same size as the opening 6 formed in the bottom 4, and is for the purpose of closing said opening, so that water cannot seep between Said rubber and the adjacent sides of the opening. By the construction of this rubber, water cannot affect the same, and will not freeze to the bottom 4, as would be the case in cold weather if this rubber was omitted.

Connected to the lower end of the cable 15 is a locking device, which is constructed of ICO a bar 17, provided with an enlarged portion 18 formed on one end, in which the adjacent end of the cable is connected by the saine construction as the opposite end of said cable is connected to the shank 1l carried by the eye 10. This bar 17 is fulcrumed at 19 1n a slot 20 formed in the adjacent end of a f bar 21, and the free end of said bar 17 is depressed or formed smaller, so that when 'it is I tube 1 it would prevent the weight from be-v in the slot the corners vwill not be as liable t? come in contact with the annular projection 7 when said locking device is released from the position shown in Fig. 2. The opposite end of said bar 21 is rigidly connected to a weight 22 by being inserted into an aperture of like size 23.

The cable 15 is of suitable length so that when the weight is drawn up in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the snap, carried by the opposite end of said cable, can readily be made to engage the required portion of the harness carried by the horse or other animal.

The tube 1 is of sufficient length so that' when the hitching device is not in use the weight 22 will be suspended in the lower end ot' said tube.

If Water collects in the lower end of the ing vertically moved in said tube to a certain extent, and to obviate this I have constructed vertical apertures 24 in the'wcight, which will allow the Water to pass through, in case the weightis of sufficient size to prevent the water from passing between its adjacent sides and the adjacent sides of the tube.

The operation is as follows: Vhen the hitching device is in the position illustrated in Fig. l, and it is desired to hitch a horse, or other animal thereto, the operator grasps the snap 13 and raises it up the required distance which will bring the weight 22 up adjacent the lower side of the bottom 4 in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. When the weight is in this position, the operator turns the bar 17 at right angles, or nearly so, with the bar 2l, and said bar 17 being of sufficient length and fulcrunied adjacent its center to the bar 2l, its

ends will engage the upper end of the tube 1v and prevent a downward movement of the weight until said bar 17 is released by the operator. By the construction of the cavity 5 at the upper end of the tube 1, it allows the snap 13 and its connections, to be placed below the upper end of the tube 1 and the surface of the street, so that there will be no obstruction whatever by the hitching device when it is not in use.

1. In a hitching device, atube having a partition in the upper portion of said tube transversely thereof, which partition lis p -rovided with a central aperture, in combination with a shank mounted in the aperture in said partition, a cable attached to the lower end portion of said shank, vthe upper end .portion of Whichshank is provided with attaching means, a bar connected to the lower end of said cable, a bar hinged to the first said bar, and a weight fixed to the lower end of the latter said bar. u

2. In a hitching device, a tube having a transverse partition in the upper portion of said tube provided with a central aperture, in combination with a shank havinga flange mounted in the aperture of said partition, a rubber-facing on said ange adapted to contact with the said partition, attaching devices secured to the upper end of said shank, a cable secured to the lower end of said shank, a weighted bar within said tube, and abar fulcrumed to said weighted bar and fixed at its upper end to the lower end of said cable.

3. In a bitching device, a tube having an apertured partition in the upper portion of said tube, in combination .with a shank vertically positioned in said partition, and having a ange adapted for engagement with said partition, and an eye adapted for engagenient with attaching devices, a cable xed to the lower end of said shank, a bar ned to the lower end of said cable, and a weighted bar pivotally connected at its upper end to the central portion of the said bar.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH P. MUTH.

Vtitnesses:

W. J. SANKEY, EDWARD E. LONGAN. 

